Dear Grizzly: Next Time, Just Send Flowers
Our Alaska blog-novella continues…
When we last wrote, we were heading up the stairs to our remote forest service cabin. We were not so excited to find out whether or not a grizzly was hanging out behind our cabin’s outhouse.
Although we didn’t see it, we’re pretty sure those guys with guns were right. There probably was a grizzly somewhere around our cabin. What makes us think so? Well, when we made it near the top of the steps, we found a welcome gift.
A pile of steaming bear scat.
We rushed the last few steps to the door and tried not to think too much about it (despite seeing constant signs during our visit that he/she was out there).
Staying distracted wasn’t actually too difficult. I mean, look at how cool this little cabin was. Perched up on a hill, we found it in great shape.
Inside, we found both a kitchen area and a table on the front (lake) end.
We loved having a wood burning stove in the middle, and there was a sleeping-bag-ready platform area on the back side.
Here’s a photo of the cabin taken from the back side.
We had an incredible time at the cabin and are already plotting how we can get back for a longer stay.
Because we had this entire peaceful setting to ourselves, it was not easy to walk out the door for the last time.
On the morning we were set to leave, we reluctantly threw open the door and made a lot of noise for a long time. We wanted that grizzly to know that we were heading back out to the trail and on to our next adventure in Alaska.
Denali, here we come!
How charming. I want to live in a cabin like that – but without the bear scat.
We could have stayed in the cabin for a lot longer. It was really fantastic. Forgot to mention that it also came with a canoe to use out on the lake.
What a great find! I love it when something that sounds super cool, like a remote forest service cabin, actually….is. Although I wish you would have seen more of the bear than just the scat! (at a distance, of course).
That’s how we felt regarding the cabin. “Is this for real,” was a common phrase.
We’ve seen enough wildlife this summer, so not seeing the bear was actually OK with us.
Wow, how beautiful!
Very restful (if you don’t count the grizzly!)
Enjoy.
It was restful. Very very quiet.
This cabin is so cute! I’d love to stay out in nature like that. The last photo is amazing–talk about a picture-perfect view.
We’d spend a lot of time out there chillin’ on the porch (looking for bears on the mountain across the lake).
Love that last photo framing your view from the door. What a beautiful area. Totally worth the grizzly threat
It was totally worth it. We’re seriously (already!) considering how to get back up there next year. We don’t do “go backs” much, but this experience is worth repeating.
Jealous! Looks like a beautiful cabin and a wonderful trip. I can’t WAIT to go to Alaska (not that there’s a trip planned, but next summer hopefully!)
Yes, Jillian – get it on the books! We can Skype and brainstorm an itinerary with you
Well, if you’d paid a little bit more for your accommodation, I’m sure you’d have been met with a welcome drink rather than a welcome poo. You know what they say – you get what you pay for!
Very true! And… we probably wouldn’t have had to eat “astronaut” food, which – to be fair – was actually quite good.
Awesome cabin and view! But I don’t think I could have slept a wink thinking about that grizzly.
I bet you could have. Remember, bears don’t want anything to do with human either. It’s all about NOT startling them. (Um, at least that’s what I tell myself.)
What a beautiful area! Reminds me of a cabin I stay in Lake Tahoe (minus the lake view). Granted, I only have to deal with black bears and not grizzlies. With bears around, I think I would have had to enjoy much of those views from the inside.
That’s exactly what we did
Besides, we had done a lot of hiking so didn’t need to be on our feet much more.
To Sirs, With Love. The Bear.
LOL. I bet that’s exactly what the bear was thinking.
Oh, I wish it would have been so easy to laugh about in that moment
What a gorgeous view! At least your only sign of them was the poo and not a big huge “bear” hug.
Word.
So y’all haven’t seen him yet? I kinda want y’all to bump into him… just to say hi! As for the cabin… shit looks like a nice 5 star cabin. I would love to stay there one day. Hope the rest of the camping goes well.
The cabin has definitely been a favorite adventure so far. We have lots more to share though. We’ll be blogging about Alaska until 2013, I’m sure…
That poo was a message; this is my place.
That bear has very good taste in terms of territory selection.
I think I would need to be armed to sleep in that cabin! Sounds and looks perfect.
What a beautiful view!
What gorgeous setting! But having a bear in the vicinity is not cool!!!
But you missed it, right…
Have a fabulous day, I enjoy your blog:)
Yes, we missed it!
Love it! Glad you enjoyed the cabin (it looks quaint) and that you didn’t get attached by that damn grizzly. A bear tip I learned in in boy scouts may come in handy next time: If it’s brown…get on the ground (ie. play dead). If it’s black…fight back (ie. be as big as you can be and it will be scared of you)
Thanks, Brock. We have bear awareness OCD, so know all the tricks and tips.
I want to live in that cabin. Somewhere where there are no bears…
Stunning view! But did the cabin really have an outhouse? No photos of how far you had to trek to get there or the bear’s lair?
We have a family house up near Lake Arrowhead and there are big black bears up there. Last year we saw a big pile of bear scat about 10 feet from the house!
Yes! It did have an outhouse. It was awful. No pictures (we would lose our readers).
Looks like a little slice of paradise! (minus the wood beds)
What an amazing location and view from the cabin… worth dodging the “landmines” left by the bear…
I like the way you put that. Yes, definitely worth it!
Gorgeous. Love that last photo. I think I need to stay in a place like this now